ABC drew strong numbers for the Capital One Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Penn State’s victory over LSU drew a 6.9 fast-national rating and 11.7 million viewers on ABC Friday, up 8% in ratings and viewership from last year’s game between Georgia and Michigan State (6.4, 10.8 mil).
Compared to Michigan/Florida in ’08, the game was down 24% and 21%, respectively, from a 9.1 and 14.8 million viewers.
Penn State/LSU stands as the second-most viewed Capital One Bowl of the past 9 years.
The game drew a 23.8 rating in New Orleans, the best for a bowl game on ESPN/ABC in the market since at least ’05.
Ratings/viewership for the Capital One Bowl since ’96
| Year | Date | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Fri., 1/1/10 | Penn St./LSU | ABC |
6.9
|
11,691
|
| 2009 | Thu., 1/1/09 | Georgia/Michigan St. | ABC |
6.4
|
10,839
|
| 2008 | Tue., 1/1/08 | Michigan/Florida | ABC |
9.1
|
14,780
|
| 2007 | Mon., 1/1/07 | Wicsonsin/Arkansas | ABC |
5.8
|
9,615
|
| 2006 | Mon., 1/2/06 | Wisconsin/Auburn | ABC |
5.2
|
7,799
|
| 2005 | Sat., 1/1/05 | Iowa/LSU | ABC |
5.5
|
8,730
|
| 2004 | Thu., 1/1/04 | Georgia/Purdue | ABC |
7.4
|
11,595
|
| 2003 | Wed., 1/1/03 | Auburn/Penn St. | ABC |
5.9
|
9,451
|
| 2002 | Tue., 1/1/02 | Tennessee/Michigan | ABC |
6.5
|
10,800
|
| 2001 | Mon., 1/1/01 | Michigan/Auburn | ABC |
7.6
|
—
|
| 2000 | Sat., 1/1/00 | Michigan St./Florida | ABC |
9.0
|
—
|
| 1999 | Fri., 1/1/99 | Michigan/Arkansas | ABC |
7.1
|
—
|
| 1998 | Thu., 1/1/98 | Florida/Penn St. | ABC |
9.2
|
|
| 1997 | Wed., 1/1/97 | Tennessee/Northwestern | ABC |
7.5
|
—
|
| 1996 | Mon., 1/1/96 | Tennessee/Ohio St. | ABC |
11.5
|
—
|
(ESPN PR)
